PANAJI
Goa had a poor Ranji season 2025-26. They finished sixth in their Elite B group among eight teams. Despite a promising start to the season, Goa suffered losses in each of their last four games to finish sixth. Goa could manage to defeat only Chandigarh. They suffered losses against Madhya Pradesh, Saurashtra, Maharashtra and Kerala with matches against Karnataka and Punjab ending in a draw. Thus, Goa ended their campaign with 11 points (1 win, 4 losses and 2 draws) from 7 matches.
Abhinav Tejrana and Lalit Yadav shined for Goa this Ranji season. Both the players are originally from Delhi. While Abhinav has made his base to Goa since 2021, Lalit was hired by Goa Cricket Association (GCA) as an ‘outstation’ player this season.
For Abhinav, this was a debut Ranji season and he ended his campaign in style scoring 788 runs from 7 matches at an average of 71.63. This included 4 hundred and 2 fifties. Abhinav scored a classic double hundred (205) on debut against Chandigarh at Porvorim to signal his arrival with a bang in first-class cricket.
Abhinav’s other centuries were against Punjab (131), Saurashtra (118) and Maharashtra (109).
In fact, the 25-year-old left-handed opening batsman was the third highest run-getter this season only behind Delhi's Ayush Doseja (949 runs) and Sanat Sangwan (828 runs).
Another star performer for Goa was Lalit Yadav. He performed well with both bat as well as ball thereby cementing his place as a valuable all-rounder.
Yadav was Goa’s second highest run-getter with 512 runs from 7 matches at an average of 51.2 which included a double hundred. He scored 213 against Chandigarh at Porvorim. In fact, Abhinav and Lalit were involved in a record 309 runs partnership during that match. Lalit was declared ‘Player of the Match’ against Chandigarh for all his around performance as he took four wickets in that innings apart from scoring a double century.
Lalit emerged as Goa’s second highest wicket-taker as well behind Darshan Misal with 17 wickets from 7 matches at an average of 31.82.
Suyash Prabhudessai was Goa’s third highest run-scorer with 418 runs from 7 matches at an average of 34.83. This included 1 hundred and 2 fifties. Suyash’s innings of 149 against Punjab fetched him ‘Player of the Match’. His knock helped Goa to take a first innings lead. The game ended in a draw.
Goa’s highest run-getter during last season Snehal Kauthankar could score just 290 runs in 6 matches this season which included 2 fifties.
Another top performer for Goa was former captain Darshan Misal. He emerged as Goa’s leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets at an average of 35.47 which included one 5-wicket haul in an innings. In fact, Darshan was Goa’s highest wicket-taker with 25 wickets during last season as well.
Arjun Tendulkar took 15 wickets from 7 matches to emerge as Goa’s third highest wicket-taker behind Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal.
Overall, it’s the outstation players that were among top performers for Goa this Ranji season.
